QNAP Systems, Inc, a world-class manufacturer of Network Attached Storage (NAS) servers today unveiled a unique new network appliance that can best be described as a set-top player crossed with a NAS server. Computer users around the globe face the dilemma of how to centrally store, manage, and playback growing amounts of digital content spread around the home on multiple computers.

"QNAP's ground-breaking NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player is the definitive product that bridges the gap between the home network and the living room" said Meiji Chang, CEO of QNAP Systems, Inc. "Users are clamoring to centrally store and enjoy all their digital content in the living room and the NMP-1000 just fits the bill" Mr. Chang added.

The new NMP-1000 incorporates an internal hard disk drive that easily catalogs digital pictures, videos, music, and other content from computers on the home network and can effortlessly play them back in the home theater with the included remote control.

The new NMP-1000 connects to the home network via wired Ethernet (wireless adapter ready) and to an HDTV via HDMI or Component interfaces, or Composite & S-Video interfaces for standard-def TVs. The NMP-1000 is capable of playing back smooth Full HD 1080p video and crystal clear audio; turning digital picture slide shows, home videos, purchased content, and even shared iTunes libraries into a viewing/listening experience worthy of the living room. Because the NMP-1000 is Internet connected via the home network, you can even browse digital pictures & albums from Flickr or videos from YouTube. The "10-foot" user interface makes it a snap to select content for viewing with the included remote control, and the NMP-1000 supports a very wide range of formats for playing back digital pictures, videos, movies, and music. Because the NMP-1000 incorporates technologies found in its popular Turbo NAS servers, it can also be used to automatically backup computers on the network and also for easy file storage and sharing. The NMP-1000 is equally at home on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even UNIX-based home networks.

The NMP-1000 is fully DLNA compliant and features advanced technology including HDMI 1.3 support, powerful Sigma Designs video/audio hardware decoders, and a host of advanced networking support hidden under the hood. Set-up and the overall user experience of the NMP-1000 are exceptionally easy and enjoyable.

Depending on price, this could be very nice...If it is around $200-$300, this could be very cost effective, easy alternative to an HTPC, but if the price is the $600-$800 range, I would rather build an HTPC.

It does seem like a HTPC for dummies kit. The slot on the side looks like it has a hot-swap tray setup for 1 3.5 HDD. The front seems to have a cover over a memory card slot for say camera pictures and video.

Could be a really nice buy around $100 to $150. At $200 (if no HDD) I would get a PS3. At $300, even if a HDD is included I would build my own.

Pretty much, but the PS3 doesn't double as a file server. Although, this also doesn't playback bluray. Depends on your needs I suppose.

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Thats true, but really most people have perfectly acceptable computers already in their homes that can be the file server...

Hell, up until about 6 months ago, my main file/media server was a GX50, which I picked up use 2+ years ago for $75. I believe they go for the sub-$50 mark these days. Drop in a decent sized hard drive, or even just connect an external, and you have yourself a sub-$100 file/media server that uses next to no power(more than this device when just sitting idle, I'm sure, but not a whole lot).

Thats true, but really most people have perfectly acceptable computers already in their homes that can be the file server...

Hell, up until about 6 months ago, my main file/media server was a GX50, which I picked up use 2+ years ago for $75. I believe they go for the sub-$50 mark these days. Drop in a decent sized hard drive, or even just connect an external, and you have yourself a sub-$100 file/media server that uses next to no power(more than this device when just sitting idle, I'm sure, but not a whole lot).

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Oh, I agree for people like us. I have some AM2 stuff laying around that are soon to be in an HTPC/file server build. Just need the case, psu, and some odds and ends. Have all the major components already.

But for people a little less inclined than enthusiasts like us, this seems like a fairly simple solution, that's likely easier to set up and get going.

Oh, I agree for people like us. I have some AM2 stuff laying around that are soon to be in an HTPC/file server build. Just need the case, psu, and some odds and ends. Have all the major components already.

But for people a little less inclined than enthusiasts like us, this seems like a fairly simple solution, that's likely easier to set up and get going.

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make sure you link me to that when it happens, i'm curious as to how yours will differ to mine

i think this is a bit expensive, but its beatiful. look at all those outputs! SPDIF TOSLINK, HDMI, COAX SPDIF, HDMI, component, composite, S-video - and it even has an E-sata connection so you can dump video files to it at respectable speeds

If it comes with a decent sized HDD, for the average Joe, sure. Price is high, but that is about normal for "mainstream" consumer electronics. But with an MSRP of $400, I am really going to need them to give up a 1 TB HDD at the least for our non-tech people out there.